Centenary opens academic year with annual welcome events; increased enrollment
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SHREVEPORT, LA — More than 700 Centenary College students returned to class on Monday, August 26, representing the College’s largest enrollment since 2011. One marker of Centenary’s increased enrollment is completely full on-campus housing for the first time in 20 years, with 91% of all full-time undergraduate students living on campus. According to Mark Miller, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, the College has already increased campus housing capacity going into the fall semester and has begun planning for continued enrollment growth and higher demand for campus housing in future years. New academic programs such as kinesiology and sport management, along with established strengths in biology, business, and music, are attracting more students to the nearly 200-year-old college.
On Tuesday, August 27, Centenary president Dr. Christopher L. Holoman welcomed faculty, staff, and students to the annual President’s Convocation in Brown Chapel, the traditional opening of Centenary’s academic year. During his convocation address, Holoman highlighted the concept of “third places,” a term coined by American sociologist Ray Oldenburg to describe informal public gathering places outside of the home and the workplace that enable civic engagement and help nurture and sustain democracy and a functioning civil society. Holoman encouraged those in attendance to understand Centenary College as a particular kind of “third place” with great potential for building relationships and sharing common experiences, but cautioned that reaping the benefits of such a space requires each individual in the community to commit to engaging in civil discourse, including active listening, empathetic communication, seeking common ground, and avoiding ad hominem attacks.
A photo gallery from the President’s Convocation is available at centenary.edu/photos.
On Thursday, August 22, Holoman presided over the College’s annual all-campus meeting, welcoming new employees and setting priorities for the new academic year. Holoman also presented the 2024 David Womack Leadership Award to Dr. Rachel Johnson, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning.
The David Womack Leadership Award was established in memory of David Womack, who suddenly died while serving Centenary College as the Dean of Students in the 2008-2009 academic year. A dynamic leader and catalyst for change, Womack made a great impact on the Centenary community in a short period of time.
Johnson, a Centenary alumna from the class of 2008, successfully launched the College’s Learning Commons and its first Center for Teaching and Learning. Within the Learning Commons, she created a successful and growing peer mentor program, including a for-credit class for mentors. She is the faculty advisor for Centenary’s Outreach group supporting LGBTQ+ students and allies and helped the group institute new programs during the past year. Johnson has designed two new courses at Centenary, one focused solely on first year student success, and co-taught a new course for the College’s Centenary in Paris program in August 2024.
Holoman shared excerpts from the nomination submitted by Johnson’s colleagues during the presentation of the Womack Award. The nomination noted her initiative in building relationships with different constituencies around the College, including faculty, Athletics, Student Development, Admission, Development, and student organizations, and her commitment to seeking ideas, questions, and feedback from these groups.
“Rachel seeks ongoing improvement for every program, every event, and herself,” said Holoman. “She is a genuine College ambassador and supporter. She attends and participates in activities 110%. Her caring for the College and our students is evident in everything she does.”
Past recipients of the Womack Award include Chief Eddie Walker, Connie Whittington, Mark Miller, Monica Powell, Emlyn Aubrey, Dr. Scott Chirhart, Tina Feldt, and Shanta Bates Chatman.